Sunday, August 30, 2015

So recently, I watching Beauty Bible and they were doing their last segment for K-beauty/ "Trends Around the World" which is one of my favorite parts of the show. Well, during the segment they had to guess what was popular in each country. Energetic host Kwanghee guessed most of the countries right and then it came to North America/ USA and then the Super model Seunghyun said, "Americans doesn't know much about skincare... some Americans don't even wear sunscreen." Then they show a clip of what was popular which was two tone lips sticks apparently but I think most of it interviews were shot in back East. After thinking about this it was some what true. I thought back to pre-teens years and mostly remember Proactive or Murad; and cosmetics brands like Maybeline, Loreal, and Revlon; but mostly it was plastic surgery and hair care, skincare, and mineral makeup infomercials. It was not until YouTube became huge, where people around world started sharing their beauty and skincare tips and tricks. Then I saw Asian YouTubers broadcasting from Singapore, then Japan, and then Korea doing something I never seen before in the makeup routines that made them look flawless because of skincare. Like pampering your skin before the storm of makeup hits your face.

I wondered why we didn't get into global skincare until now. Well it's obvious we do care about are skin. But being that we are a melting pot of different cultures, idealism, and a hodgepodge of skin issues. Most of the population couldn't afford to spend money on taking care of themselves, let alone even their skin. The advertise norms were Soaps back by Godliness and your local celebrity much like today, drugs that cure wife's supposed behaviors/ mood swings (pms), and cosmetics latter technicolor at the time took care the outer and inner issue we had to face day in and day out. It wasn't till the late 1800s, America saw it first sunscreen lip balm. Most of are manufactured creams and lotions were petrol based, and that didn't come till later. And when bathing suits became a must for the blazing summers at the beach that's when sunscreen was invented in the 30s-40s with later advancements like SPF and UV protection in the 60s and 80s.Tan skin is certainly the norm here in America so, SPF with UVA/B is nice but even when I do wear sunscreen it's usually when I'm being actively-outdoors but sometimes your skin needs that 15-30 minutes in lime light to build that much needed Vitamin D. Most people when they do get scaring or darker completion it's mostly because your skin is trying to protect you from the sun by producing Melanin from melanocytes. That's where human skin, hair, and eyes get are color from. Melanin is an effective absorber of light; the pigment is able to dissipate over 99.9% of absorbed UV radiation. But even Southern Europeans go get a tan at the beach, and white Americans who want more definition or some just think they look pasty so they get a spray on tan even opting out those tanning beds.

Whitening has long history all around world by way of miscegenation of a population or class or threw cosmetics. Today whiting cosmetics are so popular in the Eastern world and parts of the Americas, many off brands or cheaply made creams or gels popped up destroying the vital cell still in use today. While the rest of the world have moved on to targeted color/blemish correcting cosmetics with SPF. Most of creams sold in Indian and even my Dads homeland Jamaica had access to bleaching gels, and creams that caused huge problems of photo-degradation of certain vitamins, vital to protecting the skin, causing light sensitivities, burns, and even skin cancers.

I had to ask my friend about what she thinks about the Eastern world perceptions of Westerns. She said something that I didn't really think about at the time. But let me tell you a story that I have told many times that correlates to how I came to writing this post. When I was pre-teen like many, my acne was horrible believe it or not. Some people don't even believe me when I tell them. My mom had just taken a nutrition class and wanted solve the issue because as a kid my skin #flawless even though I was eating McDonalds for breakfast and Burger King for dinner; I sure did have a boat load of toys now, that I think about it. (Rant: I hear that some organizations are concerned for poor classes diet in the eastern world which is apparently lacking in As so, genetically modified rice(GMO) infused with beta-carotene was created to fix the issue. Which stems the logical problem because most people eat rice everyday since it is a stable this might do more harm than good and toxicity might not be a issue at first but the effectiveness of beta-carotene is known to lessen over time making useless to body causing the same outcome of hepatotoxicity.) Anyways, My mom went on a health kick and today people are finally getting it: YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. Anyway, I tried Proactive which worked but wasn't a permanent solution after reading up about the chemicals benzoyl combined with peroxide at the time was very drying and irritating to my very sensitive skin.When I turned 14, I became determined about trying to find a solution to my Pizza face filled of black heads and white heads. I went to the Dermatologist, that when I found out I was allergic to the common dust, pollen, trees, but also Olives. No more authentic pizza for me and for a lot of people who feel my pain because the struggle was real. He prescribed me to use Retinal A cream, Sulfate based topical or Salicylic acid and Sunscreen which of course worked but because I was just a teen I couldn't afford to continue maintaining the routine. So, when I did have an allergic reaction I would use to get these dime sized boils on legs full of itchy fluid. So, when I do eat olives, it accumulates in my feet causing dry itchy flaky skin to occur (Atopic Dermatitis). But one thing is true about this allergy is that I had a lot of headaches as kid and even today if I do accidentally eat olives in any shape or form. Apparently, the OPAL scale has place specific species of Olive trees and pollen at a 10 for being the most allergenic, causing a few to many respiratory problems like asthma. Even my mom has issues but, with Avocados which, make her want to vomit with even the thought of trying to digest it's fatty goodness.Okay, so did you guess it yet? If so, were you thinking Dermatologist? Then yes, you are correct! My friend said we have the top Dermatologist with California having the most in the US, second NY and third Florida. One branch of Dermatology became an organization called the for short ABD which was established in 1932 but, the main organization has be around since the 1876. Talks were held by AAD in forming that institution in which focus skin aliments and diseases, the ABD. Recently, the AAD has published an article on the effects of prescribed Anitbotic to patients dealing with diseases and hormonal skin issues that correlates to the flesh eating bacterium especially subjects with Acne. To those, who are prescribed antibiotic to sum it all up take it moderation or as prescribed by your doctor which basically is a three month period while taking topicals like what my doctor prescribe me to maintain the skin or the other option is to be put on more stronger medications. After reading the article you will have a better understand to why your prescribed certain topicals and or drugs to combat skin issues.

For instance, there has been a lot talk on the web about Accutane which isn't really explained very well to audiences by users that have sever acne. So, what is Accutane? Accutane is also known as Isotretinoin which, is an oral pharmaceutical drug primarily used to
treat cystic acne reducing bacterial numbers in both the ducts and
skin surface.It is a retinoid, meaning it is related to
vitamin A (or retinoic acid is effective in maintaining normal skin health), and is found in small quantities naturally in the body. This retinoid is successful in regulating epithelial (protective) cell growth. Also, it reduces the size and secretion of the
sebaceous glands. Because it is very controversial drug because it sometimes prescribed with contraceptives on a trail basis for women as a hormonal treatment due to the failure of antibiotics. Some might be prescribed Spironolactone, brand name Aldactone in most countries, is a synthetic, steroidal antimineralocorticoid, as well as, to a lesser extent, an antiandrogen, progestin, and antigonadotropin. The side effect are what most worry about because it puts patients at high risk when paired with Spironolactone which, is known to cause depression but, has been effective along side Isotretinoin in studies. However, Isotretinoin does help to decrease "inflammatory acne on the jawline, premenstrual
flares, association with hirsutism, or excessively oily skin." It showed a lot promise with males who take it alone having no effect on male reproduction proving that it is safe and effective.

Moving on to Isotretinion sister is Tretinionis which, is a retinoic acid in pharmaceutical form also, the carboxylic acid form of vitamin A. It is a first generation topical retinoid
commonly used to treat acne vulgaris (common acne) and keratosis pilaris (rough red bumpy skin). It is most commonly available in gels and creams. Tretinionis has been highly tested for many types of skin conditions. Both trailstreatments for acne have the same or similar side effects like dry, sensitive skin, birth defects, and mood changes. There is another drug called Dapnsone that was also used treat sever acne vulgaris but that's just another option to consider.

In conclusion, American Dermatology were and still are pretty much at the for front in important skin care solutions and discoveries like Vitamin A, being that it is really powerful even on a cellular/genetic level but, all in moderation is best kept in mind because toxicity is common. But amazing Vitamin A and it's counter parts have been effective in treating certain cancers and acute to mild stages of sever virus in studies. I wish I had found out about this sooner a lot lives will hopeful benefit from this because I have a lot people in my life who are suffering from retro-active virus I even lost a family member to it. Thank you for reading to till end I hope you learned a lot and will follow the links to those organization to learn more.